New Mexico Launches Dual Investigations into Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch Abuse Allegations

South of Santa Fe, Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous Zorro Ranch sprawls across 10,000 acres of remote New Mexico desert. Equipped with a mansion, helipad, airstrip, and hangar, the property was more than a luxury retreat — it was a site where survivors say horrific abuse took place. For decades, rumors swirled about crimes committed there, with some even alleging bodies buried on the grounds and connections to powerful figures shielding Epstein’s activities.

Now, public pressure and persistent activism have forced New Mexico officials to act. In mid-February, the state launched two parallel investigations. The first, a civil Truth Commission unanimously created by the state House of Representatives and funded with $2 million from Epstein-linked settlements, aims to expose systemic failures that allowed abuse to flourish unchecked. The second is a reopened criminal investigation by the attorney general’s office, which has already conducted searches of the ranch using search and rescue dogs.

“This is what we need to see more of, state by state,” said Sky Roberts, brother of the late Virginia Giuffre, a survivor who alleged years of abuse at the ranch before her tragic death. “The people of New Mexico are demanding answers. They’re demanding justice that starts here.”

Truth Commission Chair and Democratic State Representative Andrea Romero emphasized the commission’s mission to uncover why these crimes were never prosecuted. “We don’t know. If there wasn’t a cover-up, then what happened? Survivors reported abuse on the record, yet no state or federal charges followed,” Romero said. The commission is ready to subpoena witnesses, compel testimony, and has already received a flood of tips, including names of former ranch employees and potential co-conspirators.

Republican Representative Andrea Reeb, also on the commission, stressed bipartisan commitment. “Everyone wants to know the truth and has sympathy for the survivors,” she said.

The investigation has galvanized the local community, long aware of Epstein’s presence and activities in nearby Stanley, New Mexico. Residents recall Epstein parading around town, practicing yoga, and grocery shopping, all while abuse allegedly unfolded behind closed gates.

At a rally on International Women’s Day, hundreds demanded justice, chanting that wealth and power do not grant immunity. Roberts declared, “The people responsible believed they were untouchable, shielded by power and convinced the law would never reach them. Well, we’re here to say that money and power do not buy you a different set of laws.”

The Truth Commission plans to release its initial findings on July 31. Advocates and survivors alike hope this marks the start of long-overdue accountability for Epstein’s crimes and those who enabled them in New Mexico.

For a state that long looked the other way, the message is clear: no more silence, no more cover-ups, and no more impunity.